272 MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 



" Yes," replied Jack, confidently. 



" No, I don't" whispered Pacey, giving Jack a kick under the 

 table. Pacey had not yet drunk sufficient wine to be rash. 



"Yes, yes," replied Jack, tartly, u you do;" adding, in an 

 under tone, " leave it to me, man, and I'll let you in for a good 

 thing. Yes, Mr. Sponge," continued he, addressing himself to our 

 hero, " Mr. Pacey fancies the chestnut, and challenges him." 



" Why doesn't he ask the price ? " replied Sponge, who was 

 always ready for a deal. 



" Ah, the price must be left to a third party," said Jack. " The 

 principle of the thing is this," continued he, enlisting the aid of 

 his fingers to illustrate his position : " Mr. Pacey, here," said he, 

 applying the forefinger of his right hand to the thumb of the left, 

 looking earnestly at Sponge, but in reality squinting up at the 

 chandelier — " Mr. Pacey here challenges your horse ' Multum-in- 

 somethin' — I forget what you said you call him — but the nag I 

 rode to-day. Well, then," continued Jack, " you " (demonstrating 

 Sponge by pressing his two forefingers together, and holding them 

 erect) " accept the challenge, but can challenge anything Mr. 

 Pacey has— a horse, dog, gun — anything ; and, having fixed on 

 somethin', then a third party " (who Jack represented by cocking 

 up his thumb), " any one you like to name, makes the award. 

 Well, having agreed upon that party " (Jack still cocking up the 

 thumb to represent the arbitrator), " he says, ' Give me money.' 

 The two then put, say haif-a-crown or five shillin's each, into his 

 hand, to which the arbitrator adds the same sum for himself. 

 That being done, the arbitrator says, ' Hands in pockets, 

 gen'lemen ' " (Jack diving his right hand up to the hilt in his 

 own). " If this be an award, Mr. Pacey's horse gives Mr. Sponge's 

 horse so much — dratv." (Jack suiting the action to the word, 

 and laying his fist on the table.) " If each person's hand contains 

 money, it is an award — it is a deal ; and the arbitrator gets the 

 half-crowns, or whatever it is, for his trouble ; so that, in course, 

 he has a direct interest in makin' such an award as will lead to a 

 deal. Noiv do you understand?" continued Jack, addressing 

 himself earnestly to Sponge. 



" I think I do," replied Sponge who had been at the game 

 pretty often. 



" Well, then," continued Jack, reverting to his original position, 

 " my friend, Mr. Pacey here, challenges your chestnut." 



" No, never mind" muttered Pacey, peevishly, in an under tone, 

 with a frown on his face, giving Jack a dig in the ribs with his 

 elbow. "Never mind," repeated he; "/ don't care about it — / 

 don't want the horse." 



" But / do," growled Jack ; adding, in an under tone also, as 

 he stooped for his napkin, " don't spoil sport, man ; he's as good a 



